Ian Poulter tells World Match Play opponent Tom Lewis: lose the shyness or you won't shine

For any other 21-year-old Tom Lewis has greatly overachieved. But he has been
warned by Ian Poulter, his opponent here at the Volvo World Match Play on
Friday, that he will never reach his full potential unless he shakes off his
“shyness”.

This was not gamesmanshp on the part of Poulter, the arch head-to-head golfer who duly accounted for the Australian John Senden on Thursday. Lewis is his friend, if not his student.

Poulter first met him when Lewis caddied for him as a 10 year-old. And since his startling rise to the golfing elite, Poulter has taken Lewis under his wing. He was not saying anything he has not told Lewis before.

“Tom’s a great player as he showed when leading the Open last year as an amateur and then when winning his third event as a pro [at the Portuguese Masters in 2011],” said Poulter, the defending champion here. “But he’s very, very shy and quiet. That to me is what he needs to change.

“He’s kind of in that cloud in the background. He’s a winner and when he comes out of that box he’ll be great. He should be confident and walk with his chest out and go win some more golf tournaments.”

Lewis, who first plays Senden on Friday morning, has struggled since his victory. Bizarrely he quit his coach, the much-vaunted Pete Cowen, and plainly needs a boost. A win against Senden would take him into the knockout stages and be the perfect boost. A confidence-booster, indeed.

If he does make it to the weekend he will likely find Graeme McDowell, who beat Robert Karlsson on the last by coming back from one down with three to play. The Swede missed an eight-foot putt on the last.

Justin Rose inflicted a 7&6 beating on English compatriot Robert Rock, although perhaps the day’s most worthy success came from the sole American.

Brandt Snedeker teed off with 10 clubs cobbled from Senden’s spares and the pro-shop, and wearing trainers. His clubs were lost in transit and did not appear until he was on the fourth. No matter, by then he was three up against Thomas Bjorn and eventually prevailed 5&4.

“John’s driver worked really well, so I think it’s mine now and no longer his,” the three-time PGA Tour winner said.